First and foremost, Happy Black History Month! This month offers us an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments, reflect on our contributions, and continue to work towards equity and liberation.
And there are plenty of ways for us to be in community with one another this month! Here are some February highlights:
- Brunch Banking is back every Saturday in February from 12-3pm. RSVP here for phone banking and complimentary brunch!
- Monthly workshops begin this month with our first training “Get Out the Vote 101” on February 22nd from 5:30pm to 7pm. RSVP here!
- Chicago Votes 2024 Primary Voter Guide will be released at the end of the month! Stay tuned for updates on the guide and our launch party!
Volunteer with Chicago Votes
Brunch with a side of phone banking, please! Brunch Banking is back every Saturday in February from 12-3 pm.
We’ll be calling and texting young voters to let them know Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 19th, and voters are going to be nominating the top candidates for the November elections. And it’s more than just the president (thank god!!). It’s also state and federal lawmakers, judges, state’s attorney, and some county positions.
Become a CCJ Votes volunteer, in a few steps. Start by completing the fully online, self-paced Cook County Jail Votes training. Once you complete the training course, you will begin receiving monthly CCJ Votes opportunities in your inbox!
Chicago Votes and the Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice have launched a court-watching program, sending community members inside Cook County Criminal Court to watch judges and collect data on bias and misconduct. The data collected will help in the creation of a judicial voter guide in 2024.
Get trained to become a court watcher online, at your own pace.
Our Give A Sh*t Creative Collective is a hub for creatives to rethink how we engage young Chicagoans in the political process. The Collective is made up of a diverse set of artists, including designers, musicians, poets, and videographers. Joining gives you access to paid opportunities, including mini-grants.
Updates & More!
February
Get Out the Vote 101
Learn tactics to get your peers to the polls! We will cover voter registration processes and rules, answering tough election questions, and all the resources Chicago Votes offers!
When: Thursday, February 22nd from 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Where: Chicago Votes Office: 1006 S Michigan Ave, Ste 606, Chicago, IL 60604
March
March
Phone Banking for Young People’s Political Knowledge and Train Takeovers
We know it’s election season, when we start getting texts and calls from campaigns Let’s talk about crafting messages people actually want to read. This workshop will go over text/phone banking, to ensure you are crafting engaging and accurate messages, and train takeovers (handing out literature on the CTA).
When: Saturday, March 16th from 12 pm to 2 pm
Where: Chicago Votes Office: 1006 S Michigan Ave, Ste 606, Chicago, IL 60604
Primary Elections Are Almost Here!
Early Voting
Early Voting in Downtown Chicago for the March 19, 2024, Presidential Primary Election will open at the Supersite (191 N. Clark) and Board Offices (69 W. Washington, 6th Floor) on Thursday, February 15 at 9:00 am.
Early Voting in all 50 Wards of Chicago will begin Monday, March 4, 2024, at 9:00 am. Click here to view a list of early voting locations.
Apply to Vote-By-Mail
Vote By Mail is now open for the upcoming election on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Fill out this online form so you can vote by mail in the next election only.
Join the Vote By Mail Permanent Roster: This ensures that you get mailed a ballot for all future elections. You can edit and opt out too.
Stay tuned for Chicago Votes 2024 Primary Voter Guide!!
It may be a chilly winter day, but ‘Freddie’s Leggie Review’ is filled with lots of tea that’s sure to warm you up!
In Freddie’s Leggie Review, our policy manager Frederique Desrosiers takes a look at policy moving in Springfield.
Get Paid to Create!
We publish stories submitted by young Chicagoans, a.k.a. you! You can submit op-eds, digital content, poems, and photos. Selected contributors will be paid $100 per published piece. Pitch us a story here.
